Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 13 of 19 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,584 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
102,482
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 97°F
Cons
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Wichita Falls by $7,494/yr
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 4.4%)
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
86% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Households earn $7,494 more per year on average
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $101/mo less ($949 vs $1,050)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
Cons
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 92.4 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Income
$7,494
$55,584 vs $48,090/yr
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
86% lower
350.3 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$11k less
$128,800 vs $139,600
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 8.6% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 91.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $55,584 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 13 of 19 categories. Memphis wins 6 and Wichita Falls wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Memphis to Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $128,800 median home), income ($48,090 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Wichita Falls, TX are about 494 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.